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Luck manipulation: Difference between revisions
Small things
>Bbbbbbbbba (It says a lot about me that I consider this to be not technical enough...) |
>Sherkel (Small things) |
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The word "random" is essentially synonymous with "unpredictable". It is believed that [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hardware_random_number_generator some physical processes] are "truly random", i.e. absolutely unpredictable ahead of time, due to underlying quantum effects. However, specially designed hardware is usually needed to utilize those truly random physical processes. Other "random" processes, like rolling a dice or tossing a coin, have their results almost completely determined by the initial conditions, like the height, velocity, and spinning speed of the throw. However, since it is almost impossible for a normal human to control or otherwise determine those parameters to the precision needed to predict the results, those processes can also be considered random.
The "randomness" in computers and video games is usually of the
The internal state of an RNG is sometimes known as the "seed". Since many random numbers might be needed at a time when there are few or no external inputs, the unpredictability of random numbers depend on the unpredictability of the seed. Even if unpredictable at the beginning, a seed of finite length cannot generate an infinite sequence of truly random numbers, as each random number carries a certain amount of information about the seed, eventually making the seed, and thus further random numbers, predictable. The best RNG designers could do is to make the outputs "pseudorandom", i.e. making it a difficult computational task to predict later outputs from previous ones. However, real world RNGs, especially ones from old console games, are often not very carefully designed, making it feasible to analyze the outputs and retrieve the seed.
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=== TAS ===
In tool assisted speedruns (TASes), human precision is not an issue, so the player can get the desired outcomes for all the random events, as long as they are possible at all (although sometimes frames might need to be sacrificed). Therefore from the watcher's perspective, the player would seem to be absurdly lucky. In Pokémon TASes, this might mean getting all the critical hits that would save a turn while the opponent repeatedly misses moves, or walking through caves with no Repels and no encounters, etc. <!-- maybe mention button input delay? -->
The fact that all "randomness" becomes controlled is also why TASes can be encoded as input files ("movie files") instead of videos, and played back on an emulator/console (through the use of a machine). However, as mentioned above, the RNG is affected by some very subtle factors, including hardware timing details. Therefore de-synchronization may occur if the movie file is played on a different emulator/console than the one used to make it, simply because one (or both) of the emulators/consoles didn't mimic the original hardware down to the finest detail.
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* Not getting unwanted encounters before Repels can be bought.
For glitched runs, RNG manipulations are used more intensively. In addition to the above purposes, they are used to manipulate exact byte values that are needed for specific glitches, some not intended to be controllable by the player at all (like the player's Trainer ID and Lucky ID). <!-- don't glitchless ones have a greater need for them, instead of the other way around? one of the cornerstones in all glitchless RBY and GSC routes is ID manipulation. -->
==
Luck manipulation techniques can be used to get
==External Links==
*[http://wiki.pokemonspeedruns.com/index.php/Pok%C3%A9mon_Red/Blue/Yellow_DSum_Manipulation Pokémon Red/Blue/Yellow DSum manipulation]
*[http://www.smogon.com/ingame/rng/emerald_rng_intro Smogon's guide to Pokémon Emerald RNG abuse].
*[http://www.smogon.com/ingame/rng/dpphgss_rng_intro Smogon's guide to Generation IV RNG abuse].
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*[[Luck manipulation (Generation VI)]]
*[[Luck manipulation (Generation VII)]]
*[[Battle Video exploit]]
*[[Cute Charm exploit]]
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